This calendar may be subject to change. Events may be added, deleted or changed as the year progresses. Before attending any event listed here, contact Greg Smith, Director of Operations, at 217-840-1678, or through email to operations@ciarocketry.org

Here is a link to a PDF version of calendar you can download and print. CIA Calendar for 2023 (PDF - 146 KB)

Color Codes for Calendar Items
Membership Meeting at the Springer Cultural Center
Monthly business meeting
Model rocket launch at Dodds Park
High power rocket launch in Rantoul
High power rocket launch in Forsyth
Special event
Education and Outreach
Currently unused

January February March April May June July August September October November December

January 2024
January Monday 1 New Year Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
January Tuesday 9 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Rocket Media
Bring book, videos, etc. to share.

Note: This meeting has been postponed from January 2 due to the holidays.

7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
January Tuesday 16 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
January Saturday 20 Rocket Launch

Note: This launch has been rescheduled from January 13.

Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
January 26-28 NARCON
The National Association of Rocketry's National Convention
This year's NARCON will be a virtual event.

Check back later for a link to the website for this year's NARCON.

Online
January Saturday 27 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
 
February 2024
February Tuesday 6 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Forum on rocket design, construction and repair methods.
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
February Saturday 10 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
February Tuesday 20 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
February Saturday 24 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
February Saturday 24 Insect Fear Film Festival
Theme: Ant-Men
Check back for more information as it becomes available
7 p.m. Foellinger Auditorium
 
March 2024
March Tuesday 5 Membership Meeting
Annual membership meeting and election of club officers.
Meeting Topic: Recovery Systems & Dual Deployment "How To"
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
March Saturday 9 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Rain date: Sunday, March 10
Noon - 6 p.m. Forsyth Launch Site
March Tuesday 19 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
March Saturday 23 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Rain date: Sunday, March 24
Noon - 6 p.m. Forsyth Launch Site
March Saturday 30 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Rain date: Sunday, March 31
Noon - 6 p.m. Forsyth Launch Site
 
April 2024
April Tuesday 2 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Rocket Photography
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
April 12 - 14 Thunderstruck
Regional Rocket Launch sponsored by Indiana Rocketry
Pence, IN
April Tuesday 16 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
April Saturday 20 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.

Note: This launch has been rescheduled from April 13 due to Thunderstruck.

Noon - 6 p.m. Rantoul Aviation Center
April Saturday 27 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Noon - 6 p.m. Rantoul Aviation Center
 
May 2024
May Tuesday 7 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Introduction to model rocketry for new members and anyone who is interested.
New board members take office.

Note: This meeting is being held at the Martens Center. Not at the Springer Center.

7 - 9 p.m. Martens Center
May Saturday 11 Build & Fly Workshop
Fee $24, call 398-2550 to register.
9 - 11 a.m. Leonhard Center
May Saturday 11 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
May Tuesday 21 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
May Saturday 25 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
May 25 - 27 National Sport Launch West National Sport Launch West Alamosa, CO
 
June 2024
June Tuesday 4 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: GARLO Prep
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
June Saturday 8 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
June Monday 10 The CIA will assist the students of the Illinois Aerospace Institute (Session 1) at the University of Illinois in building rockets 7 - 9 p.m. Talbot Hall, Room 103
June Friday 14 The CIA will assist the students of the Illinois Aerospace Institute (Session 1) at the University of Illinois in flying their rockets
(set up starting at noon)
1 - 4 p.m. Dodds Park
June Tuesday 18 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
June Saturday 22 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
June Saturday 29 GARLO 2024
Theme: Music of the Spheres
All-day rocket launch, followed by an awards ceremony/potluck picnic.
Rain date: Saturday, July 13
Special Contests:
Best Rocket based on music
Best Rocket based on spheres

Note: Due to the weather forecast GARLO is being postponed to July 13.

10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
(Set up 9 a.m.)
Dodds Park
 
July 2024
July Tuesday 2 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: GARLO Wrapup
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
July 6 - 9 LDRS 42 Potter, NY
July Friday 12 The CIA will assist the students of the Aerospace EAGER Camp at the University of Illinois in flying their rockets
(set up starting at noon)
1 - 4 p.m. Dodds Park
July Saturday 13 Rocket Launch
Note: We will be holding our GARLO 2024 launch today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
July Monday 15 The CIA will assist the students of the Illinois Aerospace Institute (Session 2) at the University of Illinois in building rockets 7 - 9 p.m. Talbot Hall, Room 103
July Tuesday 16 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
July Friday 19 The CIA will assist the students of the Illinois Aerospace Institute (Session 2) at the University of Illinois in flying their rockets
(set up starting at noon)
1 - 4 p.m. Dodds Park
July Saturday 27 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
July Tuesday 26 The CIA will demonstrate rockets for kids from the Champaign Park District Summer Camp
(set up starting at 9:30 a.m.)
10:30 a.m. Douglass Park in Champaign
 
August 2024
August 3 - 9 NARAM
National Association of Rocketry Annual Meet
Pueblo, CO
August Tuesday 6 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Introduction to Medium and High Power Rocketry
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
August Saturday 10 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
August Tuesday 20 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
August Saturday 24 Rocket Launch
Annual Nostalgia Launch featuring rockets and launch equipment more than 30 years old. Dig out those old rockets and get them flying again.
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
August Saturday 31 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
 
September 2024
September Tuesday 3 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Rocketry Electronics
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
September Saturday 14 Rocket Launch
Followed by night launching of rockets equipped with lights, beepers, etc.
Noon - Dark Dodds Park
September Tuesday 17 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
September Saturday 28 Rocket Launch
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
 
October 2024
October Tuesday 1 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Our annual swap meet. Bring your surplus rocket related equipment and supplies to buy, sell and trade with other members.
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
October Tuesday 15 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
October Sunday 20 Rocket Launch
Note: This launch has been moved from October 12 due to logistical issues. The wind direction is bad for Rantoul, so the launch location has been moved to Dodds Park. The field wasn't available on Saturday, so we have moved it to Sunday.
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
October Saturday 26 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Noon - 6 p.m. Rantoul Aviation Center
 
November 2024
November Saturday 2 High Power Rocket Launch
Note: This launch has been moved from November 9 to avoid conflict with the Midwest Power event.
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Rain date Sunday 11/3.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Forsyth Launch Site
November Tuesday 5 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Rocketry Software (OpenRocket, RockSim, etc.)
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
November 8-10 Midwest Power launch near Princeton, IL sponsored by Quad Cities Rocketry Society 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Princeton
November Saturday 16 Rocket Launch
Note: This launch has been scheduled primarily to allow a group of U of I students fly their G motor rockets. However, there is no reason the rest of us can't fly some rockets as well if the weather is good.
Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
November Tuesday 19 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Papa Del's Pizza
November Saturday 23 High Power Rocket Launch
10,000 MSL waiver. Contact Greg Smith, at operations@ciarocketry.org if you plan to fly motors of "L" impulse or greater.
Rain date Sunday 11/24.
10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Forsyth Launch Site
 
December 2024
December Tuesday 3 Membership Meeting
Meeting Topic: Annual Wrapup, Rocket nostalgia and "Tall Tales". Bring stories and artifacts to share.
7 - 9 p.m. Springer Center
December Saturday 14 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
December Tuesday 17 Business Meeting 7 - 9 p.m. Hickory River Smokehouse
December Saturday 28 Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park
 
January 2025
January Wednesday 1 New Year's Rocket Launch Noon - 6 p.m. Dodds Park


CIA web pages are maintained by webmaster@ciarocketry.org, last update October 15, 2024